Acts 10

Acts 10:1-3

¹Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ²a devout man, and one who feared God with all his house, who gave gifts for the needy generously to the people, and always prayed to God. ³At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

Cornelius, a devout Caesarean centurion, sees an angel of God in a vision about the ninth hour.

Acts 10:4

⁴He, fastening his eyes on him and being frightened, said, “What is it, Lord?” He said to him, “Your prayers and your gifts to the needy have gone up for a memorial before God.

Terrified, Cornelius asks, “What is it, Lord?”

Acts 10:5-6

⁵Now send men to Joppa, and get Simon, who is also called Peter. ⁶He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside.

The angel says Cornelius’s prayers and alms are remembered and tells him to send for Simon Peter in Joppa.

Acts 10:7-8

⁷When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. ⁸Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius immediately sends two servants and a devout soldier to Joppa.

Acts 10:9-13

⁹Now on the next day as they were on their journey and got close to the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray at about noon. ¹⁰He became hungry and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet let down by four corners on the earth, ¹²in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. ¹³A voice came to him, “Rise, Peter, kill and eat!”

As the messengers near, Peter prays on a rooftop, falls into a trance, and sees a sheet of unclean animals with a command to kill and eat.

Acts 10:14

¹⁴But Peter said, “Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

Peter refuses: he has never eaten anything common or unclean.

Acts 10:15-16

¹⁵A voice came to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed, you must not call unclean.” ¹⁶This was done three times, and immediately the thing was received up into heaven.

The voice insists what God cleansed must not be called common; the vision repeats three times, then the sheet is taken up.

Acts 10:17-20

¹⁷Now while Peter was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood before the gate, ¹⁸and called and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was lodging there. ¹⁹While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men seek you. ²⁰But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

While Peter puzzles over the vision, Cornelius’s men arrive; the Spirit tells Peter to go with them without hesitation.

Acts 10:21

²¹Peter went down to the men, and said, “Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?”

Peter meets the men and asks why they have come.

Acts 10:22-23

²²They said, “Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears God, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say.” ²³So he called them in and provided a place to stay. On the next day Peter arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

They explain Cornelius’s angelic charge; Peter lodges them and goes with brothers from Joppa the next day.

Acts 10:24-29

²⁴On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends. ²⁵When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. ²⁶But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am also a man.” ²⁷As he talked with him, he went in and found many gathered together. ²⁸He said to them, “You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Jew to join himself or come to one of another nation, but God has shown me that I shouldn’t call any man unholy or unclean. ²⁹Therefore I also came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?”

Cornelius gathers relatives and friends; he tries to reverence Peter, who refuses worship and explains God showed him not to call any person common.

Acts 10:30-33

³⁰Cornelius said, “Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing ³¹and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your gifts to the needy are remembered in the sight of God. ³²Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is also called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.’ ³³Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of God to hear all things that have been commanded you by God.”

Cornelius recounts the angelic visit and says they are all present before God to hear what the Lord commanded Peter to say.

Acts 10:34-35

³⁴Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; ³⁵but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

Peter opens his mouth and confesses that God shows no partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and works righteousness is acceptable to Him.

Acts 10:36-43

³⁶The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— ³⁷you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; ³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. ⁴⁰God raised him up the third day and gave him to be revealed, ⁴¹not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴²He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”

Peter proclaims God shows no partiality: peace through Jesus Christ, crucified and raised, Judge of all, and forgiveness of sins for everyone who believes.

Acts 10:44-46

⁴⁴While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. ⁴⁵They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles. ⁴⁶For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. Then Peter answered,

While Peter is still speaking, the Holy Spirit falls on the hearers; Jewish believers are amazed as Gentiles speak in tongues and magnify God.

Acts 10:47-48

⁴⁷“Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.” ⁴⁸He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

Peter asks who can withhold water baptism from those who received the Spirit, and commands them to be baptized in Jesus’ name; he stays some days.

Old Testament

New Testament

Bible Study